Earlier this year, the Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation acquired high-powered vacuums to help reduce the number of Spotted Lanternflies in County Parks and has since acquired 10 more designated to loan to local municipalities.
Municipal employees can request vacuums through a request form; equipment is given out on a first come, first served basis.
Westchester County Executive George Latimer said, “Westchester County is taking proactive steps to combat the Spotted Lanternfly invasion, from equipping our parks with high-powered vacuums to supporting our local municipalities in their efforts. We’re working together to combat this threat to our environment.”
Commissioner of the Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation, Kathy O’Connor said, “Our parks have seen tremendous success in utilizing vacuums to help reduce the number of Spotted Lanternflies. I’m thrilled we have acquired additional vacuums to help other parts of the County do the same.”
Westchester County is collecting data from the municipal employees who use the vacuums to help track exact locations of Spotted Lanternflies. Information can be shared with the County by scanning a QR code that is placed on the vacuums. Data that is being compiled includes the municipality, exact location, number of canisters used and life-stage of the Spotted Lanternfly.
The County is continuing to urge homeowners to kill the invasive and report them via iNaturalist.
